ball clay

noun

, Ceramics.

a fine dark kaolinic clay that turns white or nearly white when fired, used in the manufacture of a wide variety of ceramic wares in combination with other clays for its exceptional bonding properties and plasticity.

First recorded in 1805–15

The use of a ball clay is therefore limited in white wares because it will spoil the color.

For earthenware or china, the English potters use only two sorts of clays: the ball clay, also called blue clay, and the kaolin.

Ball clay is very plastic, easily vitrified, but is not white.

If it shrinks too little, a little ball clay will correct it.

Pipe clays are an inferior quality of ball clay; they contain rather more iron and alkalies and considerably more silica.

April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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